International non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have pledged more than VND111 billion ($5.81 million) in aid for 68 social projects and programs in Vietnam’s central province of Quang Nam since early this year. The funding has gone to the fields of health, education, rural infrastructure development, support of children and disable people, the Dai Doan Ket newspaper reported Aug 4. At least 35 NGOs and charitable organizations have to date operated in Quang Nam, including the U.S.-based World Vision and East Meets West Foundation, Germany’s Malteser International and Japan’s Foundation for International Development/Relief (FIDR). There are more than 750 foreign NGOs operating in Vietnam, who granted more than $1 billion for the Southeast Asian country from 2005 to June 2009.
